Volume 25, Issue 2
Over the last few months in my free time, I’ve been reading George W. Bush’s autobiography entitled Decision Points. I’ve enjoyed his perspective on world events during his presidency, a much different view than portrayed by the popular media. He describes having a complicated political relationship with China, and during a meeting with the newly elected and apparently stoic Chinese President Hu Jintao, President Bush used one of his favorite “Ice Breaking” questions, “What’s Keeping you up at Night?” It was highly effective in that meeting, allowing for disclosure and the opportunity to find common ground upon which to build. This intuitive and disarming question can illuminate and delineate one’s priorities, greatest challenges, stresses, and passions.
Christopher R. Cook, D.O.
Editor TSA Bulletin
In this issue of the TSA Bulletin, our authors touch on many sleep-depriving scenarios. However, of the topics covered, the subject matter of Texas SB 945 “Truth and Transparency” has to be high on the list. This legislation stands out as the cornerstone in informing Texans about who delivers their care by license in the hospital setting and polices both physicians and other healthcare professionals. The question of “Who is delivering my healthcare?” Should burn in the minds of our patients, and the right to know that information would seem like an American value.
This is critical, because in our current and evolving healthcare system, almost anyone may have a doctoral degree, wear a long white coat, have a stethoscope around their neck, have a script pad in their pocket and introduce himself or herself as a “doctor.” Without this measure, confusion and deception of Texas citizens is assured. SB945 moves our state in the direction of integrity, by informing the public who in the healthcare market place is standing before them caring for their well-being and making life and death decisions.
SB 945 is a big win. Unfortunately, the terms Physician, Doctor, Resident, and Fellow in all Texas healthcare settings are not yet secure in, or exclusive to, the medical profession in our state. The public has traditionally correlated these terms with trust, rigorous selection and the refined, quality educational background of Medical Doctors or Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine. In addition, the viral explosion of doctoral degrees has created an acronym load that most individuals can’t interpret. DNP, DPT, PharmD, DOT, DHA, DPM, PsyD, DPH, ND are just a few examples. There are other pieces of legislation available that can help guide us in further steps.
Previous State Truth and Transparency Legislation
In 2010, Arizona passed and signed into law S1255 which requires all licensed health professionals to disclose their title, type of professional license held and field of practice on all advertisements in which they are named. Most of these health professionals are regulated by a health board and are subject to their board’s definition of unprofessional conduct. This bill stipulates that failure to comply with these requirements is an act of unprofessional conduct.
Also approved in 2010, Pennsylvania H.B. 1482 requires the Department of Health to promulgate regulations to require health care employees to wear a photo ID, including a recent photo, employee’s name, employee’s title and the name of the health care facility or employment agency. The bill also outlines requirements for the size and script of the employee’s title and what title would be designated to an applicable employee. It also limits
